Michigan
Michigan State
Michigan Takes Epic Match Over MSU to Advance to B1G Tournament Title Match
4/27/2024 9:48:00 PM | Men's Tennis
Site: Evanston, Ill. (Vandy Christie Tennis Center)
Score: Michigan 4, Michigan State 3
Records: U-M (16-11), MSU (22-6)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, April 28 -- vs. #1 Ohio State – Big Ten Tournament Championship (Evanston, Ill.), Noon CDT
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The University of Michigan men's tennis team rallied from a 3-1 deficit in the team match to defeat No. 19 Michigan State 4-3 in a Big Ten Tournament semifinal on Saturday (April 27) at the Christie Tennis Center on the campus of Northwestern. With the win, U-M advances to the Big Ten Tournament Championship against another rival, No. 1-ranked Ohio State, On Sunday (April 28) at noon CDT.
In a match that lasted more than five hours, the Wolverines outlasted the Spartans to keep their 20-year win streak intact at 23 straight matches and take their place in their third straight Big Ten Championship tilt.
After MSU took the doubles point, singles Nos. 1-4 took the courts with weather affecting playability on the middle courts leaving Nos. 5 and 6 to wait. MSU went up 3-1 leaving all four remaining matches must-win matches for Michigan.
Patorn Hanchaikul and Sebastian Collard played three tie-breaker sets in an ultimate face off. Hanchaikul led 5-2 in the third set before Collard won four straight games to take a 6-5 lead. Hanchaikul answered to force yet another tiebreaker. Collard this time took the lead going up 5-2 before Hanchaikul fought off four straight match points to come back and win the tiebreak 7-6 and pushed Michigan within one, 3-2.
At that moment, Will Cooksey was up 2-0 in his third set on No. 5 and Nicholas Steiglehner was up 4-1 in his second set after having won his first 7-6 (6).
The Spartans made a push and Cooksey found himself knotted at 4-4 with Max Sheldon, while Steiglehner lost four straight to trail David Saye 5-4. Steiglehner dug deep and captured three straight games to win the match 7-5.
Cooksey broke Sheldon to take a 5-4 lead on court six and with all eyes on the deciding match, he held serve to win 6-4.
MSU's change in doubles pair from one week ago was an advantage as they won at No. 1 and No. 2 to take the early 1-0 lead. No. 50-ranked Ronhald Hohmann got revenge for his loss to Bjorn Swenson last week, winning with matching 6-4 scores. Jacob Bickersteth took down Aristotelis Thanos 6-4, 7-5 at No. 2 singles before No. 9 Ozan Baris defeated No. 19 Gavin Young 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.
Following are match-by-match results
Singles
No. 1 – No. 9 Ozan Baris (Michigan State) d. No. 19 Gavin Young (U-M), 6-1, 2-6, 6-2
No. 2 – Jacob Bickersteth (U-M) d. Aristotelis Thanos (Michigan State), 6-4, 7-5
No. 3 – No. 50 Ronald Hohmann d. Bjorn Swenson (U-M), 6-4, 6-4
No. 4 – Patorn Hanchaikul (U-M) d. Sebastian Collard (Michigan State), 7-6 (3), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6)
No. 5 – Will Cooksey (U-M) d. Max Sheldon (Michigan State), 7-5, 5-7, 6-4
No. 6 – Nicholas Steiglehner (U-M) vs. David Saye (Michigan State), 7-6 (6), 7-5
Doubles
No. 1 – Aristotelis Thanos/Ozan Baris (Michigan State) d. No. 17 Gavin Young/Jacob Bickersteth (U-M), 6-2
No. 2 – Ronald Hohmann/Taym Alazmeh (Michigan State) d. Patorn Hanchaikul/Will Cooksey (U-M), 6-4
No. 3 – Mert Oral/Bjorn Swenson (U-M) vs. Graydon Lair/Max Sheldon (Michigan State,) 5-5 abandoned
Order of Completion: Doubles 1-2, Singles 3-2-1-4-6-5
Players Mentioned
